Thiruvananthapuram: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) State Secretary MV Govindan said the Kerala local body elections results 2025 had come as an unexpected setback for the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), but insisted that the front’s base remained intact and would be reviewed and corrected where required.

His remarks came as the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) moved towards a decisive victory in the local body polls, delivering a major blow to the LDF and pointing to a change in voter mood ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

Govindan evaluated the results by drawing a comparison with the 2010 local body elections. He said the LDF is now in a better position than it was at that time. In 2010, the front had control of six district panchayats, while in the current elections it has increased that number to seven.

He noted that the LDF had won 59 block panchayats in 2010, whereas the UDF had secured 91 block panchayats during that election. This time, the LDF has managed to win 77 block panchayats, he said.

With regard to village panchayats, Govindan pointed out that the LDF had lagged far behind the UDF in 2010. In the 2026 Kerala local body elections, the LDF secured victories in 343 village panchayats and finished with tied results in 70 seats. He said the situation in municipalities had also been very weak earlier, but the LDF has now improved its position there as well.

Govindan explained that the comparison with the 2010 results was being highlighted because the LDF had gone on to lose power by a margin of just two seats in the Assembly elections held after that local body poll.

He said the LDF was later able to regain strength through effective work carried out among the people following its defeat in the 2010 local body elections. The CPM State Secretary said these points were being raised to counter claims that the LDF had lost its base, stressing that the foundation of the front had not been shaken in any manner.

Govindan alleged that the UDF contested the elections through both open and covert understandings with communal forces. He said instances were now emerging where BJP votes had gone to the UDF and UDF votes had gone to the BJP with the aim of defeating the LDF.

He further stated that the UDF fought the elections in close coordination with forces promoting religious nationalism. Apart from winning the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, Govindan said the BJP had failed to achieve any major electoral gains.